Location

Description

John Marin is widely regarded as the greatest American watercolorist of the 20th century. With its dynamic brushwork and nonnaturalistic use of color, Lower Manhattan exemplifies the bold approach to the medium that Marin forged between 1911 and 1915.

The building in the foreground may have been inspired by the Broadway-Chambers Building (1899–1900), the first structure in New York City designed by architect Cass Gilbert. Although the office building is not located on the riverfront as is suggested here, it is brick red and has repeating rows of six windows. The jagged lines radiating from it suggest the energy of the modern city. In the distance, the Brooklyn Bridge spans the East River.

Inscriptions

Inscription

signed and dated at lower right in blue ink "MARIN-14"; on verso, in graphite "Marin 1913" and "Stieglitz"

Provenance

Alfred Stieglitz; Returned to John Marin by Georgia O'Keeffe in 1946 after Stieglitz's death; Marin family by descent.

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The information about this object, including provenance information, is based on historic information and may not be currently accurate or complete. Research on objects is an ongoing process, but the information about this object may not reflect the most current information available to CMA. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@clevelandart.org.